“What I want to do as leader of the Labour party is try and bring our country back together, appeal to people who voted both Yes and No.”

As Mr Khan addressed party activists he insisted: “There’s no difference between those who try to divide us on the basis of

whether we’re English or Scottish, and those who try to divide us on the basis of our background, race or religion.”

He went on to clarify that was was “not saying that Nationalists are bigots or racists.”

But the comments came under fire from Nicola Sturgeon who said it showed Labour is “in a hole.”

The First Minister added: “It’s desperation. We should rise above it.”

But Ms Dugdale sought to downplay the remarks yesterday.

“I think Sadiq Khan was very clear that he wasn’t accusing the SNP of racism - what he was saying very clearly though is

that nationalism by its very nature divides people, divides communities.

“That’s what I had said in my speech yesterday - I said we’re living in a divided and fractured country, a divided and fractured society. Politics is forcing us constantly to pick sides - whether you are Yes or No, Leave or remain.

“It brings out the worst in our politics, the worst in our politicians and all the consensus, the progress that we normally find

in the grey areas is lost.

“That’s why I’m standing at this conference under a banner that `Together we’re Stronger.’

“But we have to come up with ideas and values and principles that can bring communities back together, very firmly focussed